Naval Aviation Enthusiast Builds Amazing Models Using Lego

After the release of the trailer for Top Gun: Maverick Remade with Lego at the end of last month, David Cenciotti, website editor The Avationist, was ed by Jason Camlic of Chicago: “I thought you might like to see my collection of LEGO naval aircraft from pre-WWII to the present day. Some are or were available as kits, others I designed and built myself.”

Jason says he wanted to be a naval aviator when he was young. Although the dream did not come true, he continued to feed the ion. 

“It didn't work out, but I ended up becoming a professional driver. LEGO was part of my childhood as a whole. I actually started this collection in 2017.”

“I've been reading about naval aviation for years and it's something I love. LEGO has always been a part of my life, but it wasn't as important until later on. The first kit I bought was the F-5 (MiG-28). It turns out that minifigure-scale Lego aircraft are a niche hobby for many builders and sellers.”

The aircraft assembled by Jason represent models of fighters and attack aircraft used by the US Navy and are in scale 1:35, called Minifig, partially built from other kits available on the market, such as the legendary F-14 Tomcat, MH-60 Seahawk and Jay Hawk helicopters, the historic UH-1 Huey, the controversial F-35, among others. 

“I have an extensive home reference library, so I do a lot of research on each aircraft and get input from friends who have flown on the platforms.”

Each aircraft receives decals with the names of airmen who were prisoners of war or who have some kind of relationship with Jason. 

“The Vigilante is for Captain Jerry Coffee (POW) and Commander Robert Hanson (killed in action) […]. I received a kind email from his wife. The Crusader has iral Stockdale decals from when he was commander of the VF-51 (fighter squadron). Another aircraft, the Intruder, has decals for a friend whose father was a Commanding Officer in the VA-35 (attack squadron). The Spad (A-1 Skyraider) was named after Captain Rosario Rausa, whose son saw it.”

Jason says that he is currently assembling an EKA-3B Skywarrior — a naval bomber from the 1950s — and a T-2 Buckeye training aircraft, in addition to having purchased a Grumman F4F Wildcat kit, a World War II naval fighter.

“With the Whale (Skywarrior) I will have every US naval attack aircraft except the Douglas Dauntless.”

Jason also plans to build other aircraft such as the Lockheed S-3 Viking and the Grumman S-2 Tracker. This last model was even operated by the Brazilian Air Force.